You have to see this!

I have to admit this may be the longest quilt I've had the opportunity to see in my store but it is truly phenomenal!  It is the 100th Anniversary Quilt being made for King George Junior Public School.  All of the children who are attending this year own a part of this quilt.  It will hang in the school behind plexiglass and if you're in the area you should really drop in to see it!

 Here's Anna and Jane choosing a border to frame the quilt.

 I beleive the measurement across was 158 inches (Anna will correct me if I'm wrong) without borders.

It is going to be "ginormously" (combo of gigantic and enormous) spectacular!  Kudos ladies for a job well done!!!!  Bet the kids had a great time too!

Here's a great tip that we got from a very organized customer.....She was walking around the store and pulled out a "business card organizer" and I was watching her holding it up to fabrics.  My curiousity of course, finally got the better of me and I asked her what it was......

 She bought a business card organizer at the dollar store and she stores fabrics from her projects, including selvage edges so that when she shops for more fabric and co-ordinating fabrics she just pulls it out of her purse and Voila!  What a fabulous idea!  She can always see what she needs and if it co-ordinates.....

 Both of the above stories occurred on Thursday.  It is now Saturday at 5:45 P.M. and I finally had a chance to sit down and blog.....Carolyn was in to teach today - Jiffy Bags in the morning, which I did not get pictures of, but everyone got a bag almost completed and they were awesome.  This afternoon she taught Hanging Gardens - what a fabulous class!

 Everyone was busy working hard and what came out of this class was fabulous!  While Carolyn was teaching one of our new customers came in and managed to buy one of her samples for Hanging Garden (right side piece) so she'llhave to make me a new one for the display.

I wish I could have sat in on both classes but someone needs to work!  Everyone had a fun time and I think they are all going home to work on their masterpieces and start new ones....it's one of those techniques that produces endless hours of creativity!

Coming up next week -
     Tuesday evening - Sampler Club (Dear Jane, Farmer's Wife, etc.)
     Wednesday evening - Photo Expansion with Fiona
     Saturday all day - Rain Drops (lunch included)

Something new and exciting!!!  I have been asked to teach a Beginner's Quilt Piecing and Quilting by Machine to teens during the March Break which is the week of March 12th - 16th.  If you know anyone who is interested it will take place Tuesday Mar 13, Wed Mar 14 and Fri Mar 16 from 10:30 A.M. to 3:30 P.M..  Call the store for more details and ask for me....

In the meantime I'm on my way out the door and home to quilt, piece and just generally have a great night!!!

Happy Quilting!

Jo-Ann

A quick note!

So, from Wednesday nights class, the Wonderful 1 Fabric Quilts, I cut out the cat border fabric and placed it on the board.  (Note the PLEASE DO NOT REMOVE sign!)  I am spacially challenged and knew that if this quilt came down - it would never go up again the same way so, with determination I started piecing it Thursday morning.  I will not tell you how many times I had to "unsew" to get it right.  It's funny that from removing it from the design wall and walking to my machine across the room the "quilting elves" managed to change my blocks around so that when I sat down to sew, I sewed them the wrong way.....happens to everyone!

 Finally finished the top Friday night at Sit & Sew, I even have a few of the side borders on but need to cut more fabric so it will have to wait a few days before I finish it......

I am happy with the patterns that formed from the movement of the blocks.  It's taking all my will power not to grab a few of those bolts of fabric up at the front of the store and start chopping and sewing.....I can see where this method can become addictive.  It was fun!!!  See Virginia, I think it came out great - can't wait to see yours!

 Friday night was Sit & Sew and we had a great time.  Linda is making a growth chart for her grandson that is just awesome....the fabric for the giraffe is "fur" like and so soft, you just want to keep petting the giraffe.  It really is adorable.

 This is Gillian's take on Liberated Quilting - a class she took with Elaine last spring.  This is going to be awesome.  I can't wait to see the finished product.

 This morning was Christmas Club and I thought if I left the PLEASE DO NOT REMOVE sign up I might get lucky, but, alas, the ladies all wanted their blocks back....  This is one of the house blocks from O'Tannenbaum.....

 This is the second house from O'Tannenbaum....

 This is Annadele's door......!!!  In her defence she was away for two weeks!

 These are the blocks from Critter Christmas - hmmm, some are taking great liberties with the design......but that's allowed. 

If you've never done our $10.00 Christmas Club quilt you should come to one of the meetings and check it out!  They are loads of fun and it's great to see what the participants come up with each month.  They are so creative.....

I've got a class to prepare for this evening so I'm on my way home in a minute to get my creative juices flowing, and today's Christmas Club truly inspired that....There's also the "Tinners" group which we don't post any pictures of at this time.....when they are done possibly.

We've managed to wrangle another two participants in our 9 Patch Exchange, if you're interested and want to sign up, come in or give us a call.....you just need a bit of time, and an e-mail address!

Happy Quilting!

Jo-Ann

A bit of news.....

Last night was the first "class" night.  We hosted a free class to show off our February Feature book and pattern.

Wonderful 1 Fabric Quilts

We had a fabulous time....it's one of those books that gives you an "idea" of how to do the quilt block and then lets you loose with it and although I wouldn't let the ladies cut up their own fabrics last night (we were experimenting) - I had fun cutting up some great border fabric we had in the store.....

My attempt is currently up on the design wall and hopefully some time today I'll get it sewn up so you can see the effect.....This is really a fun quilt and the method is contagious, I am already thinking about all the borders I can play with in the store.....

Tonight is Barb's first Sock Knitting class which to my surprise is full!!!  She is always walking around with a "sock" in her bag and pulls it out whenever she has a free moment to work on it....  A few customers suggested we run a class and voila!!!  Who knew....  Looks like we will be stocking some sock yarns in the future!

Saturday morning is our Christmas Club meeting and I can't wait to get pics of all the great blocks everyone is working on....

Sunday - Beginner Quilt classes begin - Hand Piecing and Quilting and Machine Piecing and Quilting.  Lucky Stars starts next Wednesday.  Check the website www.cockadoodlequilts.com for all the classes coming up.  There are a few spaces available so don't procrastinate and don't miss out.

I have been mega busy this last month and I haven't really had time to post all the wonderful quilts everyone has brought in.... You all know how I love sharing customer quilts (I quilt vicariously through my customers!)....I get to see so many quilts that I want to do and just haven't got the time.....

Chris brought this one in last month on a Thursday Sit & Sew and we all just oooed and ahhhhed!  It is such a fabulous scrap quilt....

Linda brought this in last month at our Friday night Sit & Sew.  This is another quilt pattern I would love to do...I just love the crispness of the blue and white.

This quilt is also one of my favorites...it uses an overall floral and all the work is in the borders.  The outside border is scalloped after it's quilted.  Gillian and I worked on the scalloping about a week ago.  Hopefully I'll get to take one more photo before she gives it away to her friend who's favourite colour is purple.

Shirley brought this one in to share and pick borders.  She was thrilled with the way it turned out after I helped her pick the fabric.  I love One Block Wonder and have had one of my own in the works for a couple of years.  This may have inspired me to work on it some time soon.....  I can't wait to see this with the borders we chose.

Stashbusters Club Update

The first meeting of the Stashbusters Club took place last Thursday - we meet the second Thursday of the month and our next meeting is March 8th.  We discussed a number of great books for stashbusting as well as a few patterns.  The ladies got a free pattern and Linda shared her "9 Patch Exchange" quilt.  It's not finished yet but it is really spectacular.....she uses her 9 patches in the body of the quilt as well as the border.  These quilts are great stashbusters.

 Which brings me to the reason I showed Linda's quilt.  Cockadoodle Quilts with the help of Sandy Lindal is hosting a 9 Patch Exchange.  We are currently taking names and will be setting up groups to take part.  This is a free exchange and we will be offering some demos in conjunction with this program to help you all achieve beautifully completed quilts.....  So get your name in quickly so we can all get started!!!

Here are a few quilts that Sandy brought in to share with us, all made from 9 Patch Exchanges she was involved with.  They are all amazing....

 Simple design which is very deceiving - almost looks like a 4 Patch

 On Point with stars - just gorgeous!

 Sandy used some of the blocks in her binding too!

Classic setting, very effective!

I can't wait to see all the fabulous quilts that will come out of this exchange!  I'm very excited about this program and I do plan to be part of it!!!!  Come in and sign up or just give us a call and we'll reserve your space.  This is a part of our Stashbusters Club but does not require "membership" in the club!

That's almost all the news!  The rest is just about all the changes slowly happening in the store (because I am slow! and there are only 24 hours in the day).  We are slowly getting things organized and re-stocking everything that's been missing, including fabrics!  Takes a bit of time but I am certainly excited about it!  Come in and check us out!!!!

Happy Quilting!

Jo-Ann



Sharing!

That's really what it's all about!  This blog has a few quilts I wanted to share that I've been collecting pictures of....

Yesterday was our Super Bolt Sunday along with a Sit & Sew.  It was a blast!!!  Everyone had a wonderful time and the store was hopping!!!  The food was great - if I do say so myself!  So good in fact - I served it again today for lunch and the girls loved it!

 Pulled Pork Sandwiches with Cole Slaw and Potato Chips

Last week Elaine finished up this fabulous quilt top.  The colours are so rich looking, the quilt just pops!  I took this photo last week and today it went off to Sandy Lindal to be quilted (I think?!?!)  The fabrics are from a kit that Elaine purchased and it really is spectacular.....

This is Shirley's quilt.  It's a One Block Wonder and she brought it to show me and to pick out borders.  She wanted me to see how it turned out since way back in May I helped her pick the original fabric....I absolutely love it!  If you click on it, you will get a closer picture......

Sandy came by to drop off Gillian's quilt, all quilted!  If I remember correctly, I think she picked it up on Friday or Saturday.  She did an amazing job with the quilting (as usual) - now Gillian and I are going to scallop the edges - it will be stunning!  If you click on it you may be able to see the quilting pattern a little better.....

There's quite alot of changes going on still at the store.  Hopefully I will be done by Thursday for the Open House.  Hope you will all be dropping by to see what's going on and sign up for some great classes, they are filling up fast so stop procrastinating!!!  Just kidding, that would be me!

Off to take advantage of my day off and get some quilting done!  Back on Wednesday.....

Happy Quilting!

Jo-Ann

February already!!!

Before I get into some changes in the store which are happening daily at this point, I want to share a quilt with you!  Andie made this one and to say that is stunning is not giving it enough credit.....

 Bear's Paw Lap Quilt

 Check the "flying geese" prairie points

 and the prairie points on the bear's paw blocks

The pattern comes from the book Prairie Point Pizzazz by Karen Sievert.  We've still got a few copies left.  The quilts are absolutely gorgeous!  Come in and check out the book.

Now for what's happening at the "Doodle"!  I spent the day setting up our "holiday" corner, where everything is 30% OFF.  The rest of the store looks like it was hit by a tornado because there are other things happening as well which I will share as they get done!

 Our new Holiday Corner

I've also decided to sell some of our store samples.  Most of them are made from fabrics or panels that are no longer available.  They are all very reasonbly priced and reside in the "Holiday Corner".

 Poinsetta Advent Calendar - $35.00

Cardinals Advent Calendar - $35.00 

 I Believe Quilt - Lap Size - $100.00

Merry Christmas Quilt - Large Lap Size - $225.00

Stay tuned for what's next on the agenda......I'm feeling quite frisky so I'm making lots of changes - can't wait to share them with you all!

Happy Quilting!

Jo-Ann